Graduate | Current Syllabi | Term015 |

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Course Name. Data Communication System Networks

Course Credit. 3 semester credit hours credit

Course Prerequisite. Either INSS 510, INSS 520 or permission of the instructor.

Course Description. This course provides analysis of data communication technology and the application of data communication technology within the public and private sectors. It provides a detailed view, from a business perspective, of all aspects of data communication including the communication environment, data communication and telecommunication equipment and local- and wide area networks.

The student will be involved in selected case studies in communication systems design in an educational, industrial, governmental or military environment.

There will be a term project consisting of 10 - 12 page paper on a relavent and current topic in the data communication technology field.

Course Objectives. This course enables students to understand:

1. The concepts and terminology of data communications

2. Network design and distributed information systems

3. Equipment, protocols, architectures and transmission alternatives

4. The communications environment, regulatory issues, and network pricing and management

Topics Covered:

1. Communications Environment

2. Communications Systems Components

3. Networks and Control

4. Common Carrier Services

5. Design of Communications Networks

6. Network Management and Distributed Environment

7. Local Area Data Networks

8. Future Networks

Teaching Philosophy. INSS 538 takes approaches data communication technology from a business perspective. You will asked to apply the concepts of presented in the text to real and contrived scenarios and sometimes there may be many correct answers or even no correct answer. Your thought process and EFFORT is very important to me and I will gladly help any student having difficulties. I will start by teaching you how to analyze the problem, design a solution to that problem, and then solve that problem or at least know why that probelm can not be solved.

Text. Data Communications and Computer Networks: A Business User's Approach, Curtis M. White, Course Technology, 2001.

Course Evaluation.

Grades for this course will be based on
Homework Assignments (Not all equally weighted)	50%
Term Project	30%
Final	20%

and will be assigned as follows:
A	90 - 100
B	80 - 89
C	70 - 79
F(a)	less than 60

Student Responsibilities

Attendance / Participation. You are strongly encouraged to participate in all online conferences and email discussions. It can only help your understanding of the course material. Participation in some online conferences will be mandatory. Participation in the online conferences, both asking questions and providing answers, will be used as a 'swing' vote when your final grade is sitting right on the A-B or B-C threshhold.

Lab Exercises / Examinations. The lab exercises will test concpets and their application for specific chapters as outlined in the Class Schedule below. The final exam is comprehensive and is designed to not only test your understanding of the basic concepts in the material presented in the text but also your ability to apply these concepts. It will be available for a 48-hour window the last week of the course.

Late Examinations or Lab / Homework. It is expected all examinations and homework / lab assignments will be turned in on time. I recognize there may be circumstances that prevent you from finishing programs or homework on time. If such circumstances arise, it is YOUR responsibility to coordinate with me PRIOR to missing a deadline. Unless you have made agreeable arrangements with me PRIOR to the due date, grades on homework submitted after the due date will be reduced by at least one letter grade (depending on the degree of lateness).

Requirements. Students will be spending considerable time on the Internet therefore access to a very reliable Internet Service Provider (ISP) with an email account is a must. The WebTycho software is tuned to Netscape Navigator 4.x but also works well with Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x. Note: I have experienced some difficulties using Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.x.

Computer Laboratory Facilities The University of Maryland Computer Labs are available for your use. You should check the exact hours and procedures as they may vary from term to term. You are not required to use these lab facilities. You may work at home, at work (with proper permissions) or any other place as long as you do your own work.

Personal Background.

Education:
BS - Meteorology from Texas A&M University in 1987
MS - Computer Information Systems from Boston University in 1992

Computer Background: Started writing computer programs for mainframe computers using the FORTRAN computer language in 1985. These programs dealt mainly with atmospheric and aerodynamic models. I moved to writing programs for IBM compatible computers using PASCAL, C, and ADA computer languages in 1988. I have worked a great deal in integrating microcomputers as replacements for aging teletype machines on the worldwide Automated Weather Network. I have also worked at the Automated Weather Network main switching hub routing data packets over the worldwide weather data exchange network using various protocols and transmission capabilities. I have taught computer science courses part time since 1992 and thoroughly enjoy the challenge of teaching in this ever-changing field. I have been teaching for the University of Maryland since August 1993. I am currently employed as a Senior Software Engineer for ON Technology Europe (formerly csd Software). I write Win32 based programs using both Microsoft and Inprise (Borland) products. Projects I have worked on recently include, Windows NT security and profile setup; developing and maintaining a proprietary script language to record and playback routine administrative tasks and application installation routines, creating a remote installation program, planning and designing Java Native Interface (JNI) to replace a proprietary RPC library with Java's Remote Method Interfce (RMI). My current project is maintaining and enhancing a number of Windows 32 programs to remotely, continuously manage Windows 32 computers.

I can be reached at jrugg@faculty.ed.umuc.edu.

Course web page, http://faculty.ed.umuc.edu/~jrugg/inss538index.htm.

Tentative Class Schedule. Note: I reserve the right to change this schedule based on class performance.

Week	Text Assignment	Task
10 - 16 Jun	Welcome	10th - Welcome email sent 16th - Responses due
17 Jun - 7 Jul	Chapters 1 - 3	17th - Lab 1 assigned 24th - Term Project topic due 7th - Lab 1 due
8 - 28 Jul	Chapter 4 - 6	8th - Lab 2 assigned 28th - Lab 2 due
28 Jul - 17 Aug	Review	Break
18 Aug - 8 Sep	Chapters 7 - 10	18th - Lab 3 assigned 8th - Lab 3 due
9 - 29 Sep	Chapters 11 - 14	9th - Lab 4 assigned 22nd - Term Project due 29th - Lab 4 due
30 Sep - 6 Oct	Chapters 1 - 14	Final Exam will be during a 48 hour period between 30th and 2nd 6th - Last day for any late course work